Important Facts To Understand About Cord Blood Banking

Cord blood banking allows anyone to store stem cells found in umbilical cord blood. Cord blood is extracted from the umbilical cord of a newborn right after birth. For treatment of blood disorders, stem cells in the cord blood is used to regenerate new and healthy blood. For immune system disorders, it is used to boost immune systems.

Cord blood should not be confused with embryonic stem cells. There is a controversy in the United States regarding embryonic stem cells. Cord blood is completely different and not the center of controversy.

Umbilical cord blood is stored at a cord blood banking facility. There are private and public cord blood banking facilities. Public banks accept donations for use by anyone in need of cord blood. Private facilities store cord blood for use by people specified by the donor and charge fees for collection and maintaining the store of cord blood.

Private cord blood banking is a good choice for those who have disorders in their family which would benefit from cord blood treatments. Those at high-risk would have a store of cord blood if needed. Public facilities provide most of the cord blood transfusions done in the United States, so even high-risk families should be able to obtain a transfusion from a public bank.

Using the cord blood from one’s own donation should be determined by a health care specialist. For treatment of genetic disorders or cancer, the cord blood may contain the genetic defect that caused the disorder. When cord blood is required for treatment, the best choice may be a transfusion from a public cord blood bank.

Cord blood banking facilities have contracts stating terms such as ownership. Public facilities typically do not state the donation belongs to the donor or their family. Private banks usually name the mother as the owner to all rights until the donor turns eighteen. Then, all rights revert to the donor.

Making an informed choice on cord blood banks is important and is a personal decision. Many believe the potential benefits make it a wise decision. Consider the peace of mind banking cord blood brings to a family. Talk with a health care provider and research cord blood banks to make the best choice.

How Does Cord Blood Banking Work?

Cord blood banking is becoming increasingly popular, and cord blood stem cells are used to treat approximately 80 life threatening diseases and have been utilized in more than 30,000 transplants.

What are the Benefits of Cord Blood Banking?In the event a child contracts a disease that is treated with chemotherapy or radiation, there is a good chance that the treatment will negatively affect the immune system. If the sick child had undergone cord blood banking at birth, then those preserved stem cells can be used to to bolster the child’s immune system.

Matched stem cells for a transplant are difficult to acquire. A baby’s cord stem cells are a perfect match for that baby, and a probable match for siblings of the child.Stem cells that are genetically related, free from the disease, often ends in transplants with fewer complications.

Saving a child’s stem cells is an investment in a family’s future health, and the benefits cannot be financially measured. There are many expenses related to raising a child, like child care, healthcare costs and education. Every family is different and should take some time when considering cord blood banking.